Young Strategies

08/28/2024

Next time you find yourself wondering why hotels accept pets….
It’s just funny. No need to rant or tell me about the time you saw dog p**p. Just laugh and move on.

08/07/2024

Softening leisure demand, I hear that a lot from destinations all over the country. Many leisure destinations thrived in 2022 & 2023 having their best years ever; so softening demand may be settling back into a sustainable growth pattern and not backsliding to pre 2019 numbers. Don't panic when you see softening demand. Study your five-year trend data closely and you may find your market is doing just fine.

Brand's Development Pipeline Hits Record with More Than Half a Million Rooms

06/10/2024

Thank you for sharing this Marcy Jarrett!

06/08/2024

Overall, analysts said that the hiring boost highlighted the continued resilience of the U.S. economy, which has defied expectations as businesses keep hiring, wages keep rising and consumers keep spending in the face of steeply higher borrowing costs and persistent inflation.

The U.S. posted surprisingly large gains in both jobs and pay, even though the unemployment rate ticked up to 4%

06/05/2024

Now hiring!

06/03/2024

29 years and counting in my STS Marketing College career. Still learning!

Registration is NOW OPEN!
Orientation begins at 5pm at Willet Science Center. Then back to University Center at 6pm for the Opening Night Reception sponsored by Pigeon Forge.

If you haven’t already, download the STS Event App for the schedule and to receive notifications. Search “Southeast Tourism” in your phone’s App Store.

See ya soon! Safe travels.

05/25/2024

The economic numbers expose a complicated reality during former Pres. Trump's time in the White House.

His tax cuts never delivered the promised growth. His budget deficits surged and then stayed relatively high under Biden. His tariffs and trade deals never brought back all of the lost factory jobs.

And there was the pandemic, an event that caused historic job losses for which Trump accepts no responsibility as well as low inflation — for which Trump takes full credit.

If anything, the economy during Trump's presidency never lived up to his own hype.

Read more: https://abcnews.visitlink.me/MrY_ov

05/20/2024

A new experience for a destination!

North Carolina is about to build America's first 'high-end driving resorts' - the Uwharrie Motorsports Park.

04/26/2024

She started as an entry level hourly employee at 20 and 20 years later is a store manager making $240K a year. That’s upwards mobility and the article shows how she did it.

Nichole Hart walks 20,000 steps as she searches for super glue, encounters a disappointed Snoop Dogg fan and juggles staff; ‘The hardest thing is the uncertainty’

04/15/2024

Hallelujah! I found my phone. Left it in a restaurant yesterday. I was so bored last night I read a book!

04/14/2024

I lost my phone today (oops) so if you need me send an email. I'm off the phone & text grid until further notice.

02/27/2024

Diane Shober interviewing Geoff Freeman with USTravel Association at the Wyoming Governor’s Hospitality & Tourism Convention. Great insights as always.

02/07/2024

Hospitality Industry Should Fare Better Than US Economy in 2024, Analysts Say
Industry Experts Share Forecasts, Break Down Demand Segments

Industry Experts Share Forecasts, Break Down Demand Segments

01/30/2024

“If your vendor partners don’t work well together for your benefit, you need to get new vendors” - Anna Blount

01/16/2024

TREND 2024: Technology guiding hotels shifting their strategy to growth in group business.

Strategy Shifts To Focus on Group Demand

12/29/2023

Let’s annoy the hackers. Everyone change your passwords.
It’s a good habit to change passwords at least twice a year.

12/22/2023

Merry Christmas and happiest of holidays to all of our travel industry colleagues and friends from the tiny but mighty Young Strategies team Madelyn Matlock and Berkeley Young. May the next week bring you lots of joy and warmth of the season. We look forward to seeing you all in 2024!!

We teamed up with our friends at Tipsy Elves to share this hilarious ode to our favorite part of the Christmas season: ugly sweaters! Click here to gift yourself one of the hilarious sweaters featured in the video!

07/20/2023

This news is welcomed as business continues its path back to “in-person” engagement! Businesses succeed when relationships are developed face to face.

Meetings Planners Forced To Balance Short- and Long-Term Bookings To Avoid Compression

06/27/2023

Greenwood SC built a year round brand around the SC Festival of Flowers and these topiaries are an attractor worth going to see. Does your city have a horticulture department focused on creating spectacular sites to be seen?

05/09/2023

Quarterly presentation of visitor behavior and economic impact in Panama City Beach, FL. The long term record of smart, sustainable growth continues with a solid winter season.

05/03/2023

Attention all STS TMP’s. If you are a Travel Marketjng Professional it’s time to sign up for our alumni courses offered the first of June.
Topics - Short Term Rentals
Research, Analytics, strategy and storytelling
Click the link below to learn more!
Hurry. Only 29 seats available in each classroom!

Calling all alumni! 📣 We want to see you again.

We’re excited to reconnect with you in one month at Mercer University in Visit Macon. Learn more about our alumni courses and register today – certificate of completion will be awarded: https://bit.ly/3cUyj8m

Already registered? Tag a classmate in the comments below who you’re hoping to see. 👀

03/15/2023

The 2023 Travel Unity Southeast Summit is coming up in just a couple of weeks!

Here are some of the amazing people we have lined up:

Lauren Bruggemans is the Director of Sustainability & Community Engagement at Visit Greater Palm Springs, where she leads their sustainability, DEI, and workforce development initiatives.

Caitlin Scanlan has served as a professional fundraiser for over 15 years, prior to joining Café Reconcile she served as Development Director at Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, Habitat for Humanity Coastal Fairfield County, and East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity.

Neki Mohan is the VP of MultiCultural Business & Community Engagement for Visit Lauderdale. The longtime resident of BROWARD COUNTY is a passionate advocate for showcasing the diversity of her community and creating opportunities for everyone.

For over 20 years Jen Gray-O’Connor (Coraggio Group) has worked with clients to create equity-driven community engagement that provides opportunities for inclusive decision-making in visioning, planning and development.

Lauren A. K. Darnell is the Executive Director of Made in New Orleans Foundation (MINO Foundation). Since 2018 she has been leading the non-profit organization in its work to create a transformative vision of the future of the Hospitality Industry in New Orleans.

In the last twenty years, Berkeley Young (Young Strategies) has worked with over 150 destinations in thirty-five states and is a popular speaker at regional and national conferences and conventions. He specializes in destination research, planning and strategy.

Save your seat here: travelunity.org/2023southeast/

02/17/2023

02/17/2023

It was a pleasure and an honor to speak at the Georgia Association of CVBs this week in Albany, GA I spoke about transformational change in destinations and the eternal bonds of partnership and friendship in the travel industry. And no place better than Georgia where I go back 30 years and loved seeing so many long-time partners and colleagues! Jay Markwalter and team produced a great event and Rachelle Beasley and her team were great hosts in Albany.

01/22/2023

Summary The Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau (SBCTB) seeks a Public Relations/ Digital Content Manager to promote Shreveport and Bossier City as a destination by way of public relations, social media management, and content collection in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. In addition to the j...

11/15/2022

Mornings begin with roosters crowing.

08/02/2022

STS Connections is one month away and packed with great content.
Don't sit this one out!

See you there for some great networking opportunities!

https://lnkd.in/guB4Z_xB

The annual meeting of the fourteen-member states of the Southeast Tourism Society. Each year travel and tourism experts, visionaries, and curators come together from fourteen states to share their best-kept secrets for marketing and promoting their destinations.

07/25/2022

Congratulations to Billy Dunlap and One Spartanburg Inc. The combination of smart long term planning and innovative leaders can’t be beat!

OneSpartanburg, Inc. announces the hire of Billy Dunlap as Chief Tourism Development Officer to lead tourism development efforts on behalf of Spartanburg County and the City of Spartanburg. Dunlap formerly served as president and CEO of Visit York County,

07/18/2022

PRESIDENT & CEO
Louisiana Travel Association, a trade association leading and strengthening Louisiana’s vibrant tourism industry through promotion, education and advocacy on behalf of our members, is seeking an experienced President & CEO who is a visionary leader and strong community partner. The President CEO serves as the chief lobbyist for the association and speaks on behalf of the Louisiana Travel Industry. The President & CEO will manage a solid organization with an eight-person staff, 19-person Board of Directors, and a budget of approximately $3 million. A competitive salary and benefit package will be offered to the successful applicant.
The start date for the President & CEO is anticipated to be approximately September 12, 2022.
Deadline for submitting resumes is 5:00 p.m. CDT Friday, July 29, 2022. The full job description is available Here: https://louisianatravelassociation.org/staff/presidentceo-job-description
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to the Louisiana Travel Association President & CEO Search Committee at [email protected]

04/14/2022

Visit Baton Rouge is seeking an experienced executive to lead a dynamic team as President / CEO.

https://www.visitbatonrouge.com/president-ceo/

Visit Baton Rouge, a Destination Marketing and Management Organization, is seeking an experienced President & CEO who is a visionary leader and strong community partner. The President & CEO will proudly represent Visit Baton Rouge and promote the benefits and needs of the travel industry to elected....